Page 115 of The Beta's Blind Date

“Obviously.”

He gulps and stops in the doorway, eyeing the king-sized bed. “Are you sure?” he asks, his eyes sliding towards me, his hands closing into fists. “I can sleep on the floor, or—”

“You’ll sleep in this bed with me,” I state, leaving no room for argument. “There’s plenty of room for us to both sleep in it without needing to touch.”

I spread his blanket out on the bed, on top of the dark green comforter already there, then slip between the cool cotton sheets and pull the covers to my chin. He zips across the room, his bare feet padding on the floor, and he joins me on the bed, scooting in until there is about twelve inches of space between us. He lies on his back, the blankets pulled up to his chest and one arm behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

“Good night, Cadet,” he says as my eyes close.

My lips twitch into a smile. “Good night, Beta.”

Chapter 40

TARYN

Whenmyeyesopenagain, I’m alone in the bed, curled up in the spot Reid slept in, my face buried into his pillow.

I pop up, searching the room to find any trace of him. I vaguely remember scooting over and curling into his side at some point during the night, sort of recall his arms wrapping around me and holding me as we both drifted back to sleep. But the bathroom light is off, and the only hint he was here is his black blanket on the bed, his shirt on the armchair in the corner, and the lingering scent of him on the bedding.

The frosty morning air nips at my skin as I leave the bed. I snatch his blanket and wrap it around my shoulders, leaving the room bundled in his cozy scent.

As soon as I enter the hallway, the scent of pancakes cooking fills my nostrils, mixed with Reid’s full scent and freshly brewed coffee. I peek my head into the kitchen. And there is Reid, his sweatpants slung low across his hips, cooking a full breakfast spread and brewing coffee as the snow falls and swirls past the window to the right of him. His back muscles ripple and flex as he moves around the kitchen, my stomach gurgles and growls, and my wolf whimpers and twirls in excitement at the sight of him, urging me to go to him, but my feet turn to cement.

He looks like a meal, and I don’t want to think about what I look like fresh off a full night’s sleep, satin bonnet on my head and teeth not brushed. I back away from the doorway on my tiptoes, then rush down the hall and back into the bedroom, bee-lining towards the bathroom.

I didn’t consider him seeing me in my bonnet and pajamas when I let him into the room last night. I was too caught up in the humor of finding him on the floor outside my room, but now, I’m more self-conscious than I’ve ever been. I only let people I am very close with see me in my bonnet—not even Blake has seen me in it, and I think of her like a sister. And while Reid might be my mate, we’re not quite at the point where I want him to see me when I’m not looking at least a little put together.

I rush through my routine, taking my hair out of the hot pink satin bonnet and sorting my braids out, brushing my teeth, and washing my face as fast as lightning. Then I dart back into the bedroom and grab some clothing from the duffle bag Luna Haven gave me. I stop in my tracks, though, when I again spy the shirt Reid is no longer wearing thrown over the back of the armchair in the bedroom’s corner. My teeth pinch my lip between them, and then I snatch it too and change out of the sweats from the hospital and into leggings and Reid’s T-shirt.

Once it’s on me, I lift the collar and bury my nose in the fabric, inhaling his scent so it fills my lungs. Goddess, he smells so delicious. Almost as delicious as he looks.

My mouth waters, and I take one more deep breath, calming my nerves, wolf, and hormones, then I wrap his blanket around me again and head to the kitchen.

“Good morning,” he says as I enter, turning to smile at me. His eyes catch on his shirt peeking out beneath the blanket around my shoulders, and his smile grows. “You look good like that,” he adds with a wink as he plates up a stack of pancakes, some slices of bacon, and a hefty scoop of scrambled eggs. “Although, I thought you looked just fine before you ‘got ready’ too.”

“Don’t lie,” I say, shaking my head and taking the plate he offers me. “I’ve seen myself in the mirror when I wake up. I do not look ‘just fine.’ I look like microwaved death.”

“Well, then, microwaved death is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

I scoff and lean against the counter behind him, eating my food and watching him as he finishes cooking. “I didn’t know you could cook. Aside from the cookies you made me last night, I mean.”

“Luna Emily made sure we all knew how to cook. She claims every proper male should be able to cook instead of leaving it to their mate.”

“Smart lady,” I say, my lips twitching. “But didn’t she know you didn’t want a mate?”

He winces. “I didn’t always think that way. It wasn’t until I was older. In my teens. And I don’t think that way now either. Anymore.”

“Mmhmm,” I hum in reply.

“Taryn…” He sighs and shuts off the burners, his chin dropping to his chest and his hands gripping the edge of the stove. “You’re right. I didn’t want a mate. But that was before I knew my mate was you.”

I set my plate down and move to his side, covering his hand with mine. “I know,” I say, kissing his shoulder. “I’m teasing you a little.” My other hand moves to his lower back, and I keep my lips and nose pressed to his upper arm, breathing him in and soaking in the feel of the bond between us. “I’m not mad anymore. I don’t know if I was in the first place.”

“You were,” he says. “I could feel it.”

“Well, I’m not anymore.”

He sighs, then lifts his arm and wraps it around me, drawing me into his side. The blanket falls, and I wrap my arms around his middle, leaning my face against his massive tattooed chest, my ear just above his pounding heart.

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